1. Three
Kings on Blu Ray: A
compelling story involving three soldiers at the end of Operation: Desert Storm
defying orders and going on an excursion to steal gold bullion owned by Saddam
Hussein. George Clooney, Mark Wahlberg and O'Shea Jackson (aka Ice Cube) head
the cast as the trio going after the gold, one Special Forces officer and two
National Guardsmen. At first I thought this was going to be a comical farce
like UP
Periscope! or Kelly’s Heroes, and it is in some
aspects, but as the story progresses the men face a moral dilemma of going for
the gold or helping the Iraqi citizens that were coaxed into rebelling against
Hussein suddenly abandoned by a withdrawing US Army, and left to the merciless
remnants of Hussein’s army. Walberg takes the prize for best casting. There’s a
torture scene involving him, bound and fixed with electrodes. To make the scene
as realistic as possible Wahlberg actually asked for live electricity to surge
through the electrodes so he could play the scene to the hilt. So, the scene
isn’t just acting! Filmed documentary style, this is a gritty and stark
depiction of something that could have authentically happened in Iraq in the
early nineties.
2. Body
of Lies on Blu Ray: Ridley
Scott in prime form. This is the story of an American operative working in the
Middle East to thwart an Al Queda terrorist leader. Leonardo DiCaprio pulls
this off magnificently with Russell Crowe being his stateside contact, the
holder of the big picture. So compelling, I watched the movie and then watched
it again with the creator commentary, which had Ridley Scott (worth the price
of admission alone) paired with David Ignatius who wrote the original novel.
You know the scenes in the movie depicting the satellites being able to zoom
into a person’s face and read vehicle license plates? Well, according to
Ignatius, who was a correspondent in the Middle East for decades, not only are
these capabilities true, these satellites can also hear the change rattling in
your pocket. To all my conspiracy theorist friends, you were right.
3. Hitman:
Codename 47 on PC: I hate
admitting this. I really do. I’m using cheat codes to get through this whole
game. As a veteran pc gamer this is like breaching a code of honor. I mean,
yeah, there are hackers and crackers out there in the realm of gamers. There
are griefers who are only in it to cheat others out of fun. These people are schadenfreuds at best. But I’ve always
considered these types of people not gamers at all. Pariahs. But it would be
impossible for me to have completed this game without cheating. It’s just that
difficult. I suppose I’m taking the grand tour of the game simply because I’m
intrigued by the series and I’d like to play the other games that succeed it. I
just wish I didn’t have to cheat to start the ball rolling. Despite my
insidious method for playing the game, I enjoyed the scenery. The developers
took this game seriously, and it’s hilarious to take in the game’s dialogue and
some of the set pieces. “We have a very nice room for you, sir. May I have your
name?” “My name is Tobias Reiper.” Tell me that’s not funny, especially when
you hear the titular assassin say it. Or watching him step out of a closet of a
hotel dressed like a bellhop complete with a Shriner’s Murat hat with a
dangling tassle. There is some stuff in
this game that is just ludicrous, even made moreso by the degree of seriousness
the game implies. The graphics and the no-save mechanics are all par for the
course: welcome to 2000. I “beat” the game in 29 hours, despite cheating and
still having to look up let’s plays on YouTube. The game exacted a bit of
revenge on me because I actually got motion sickness on the last few levels.
Worst gaming experience of 2019.
4. Star
Trek: The Animated Series on DVD:
I finished this fine little one and a half series based on an unofficial fourth
season of the original series we all know and love. D.C. Fontana actually
declared it “the fourth season the fans didn’t get.” This aired as a Saturday
morning cartoon (though the writers and producers never ever one time referred
to it as a cartoon.) The LA Times declared this serial, “a Mercedes Benz in a
Soap Bob Derby.” The series one an Emmy, the first of its kind. We were
introduced to Spock’s home planet, and we also got the very first look at the
Holodeck. If you’re really into Star Trek and its canon, you see, kids, this is
why this is a must watch.
5. Rush
Rush
on FLAC: CDs are created at 44.1kHz/16 bits. As you know I’m a fan of
high resolution music. I picked this up on HDTracks. Recorded at 124kHz/24
bits, this album sounds incredible. Rush’s debut album released in 1974 runs
the gamut of influences, or maybe it’s the other way around, maybe the bands
coming to mind got their inspiration from Rush.
I’m hearing traces of Led Zeppelin, Nazareth, and a whole lot of Joe
Perry/Aerosmith and a little bit of David Gilmoure-ish Pink Floyd. (“In the
Mood” sounds like a direct steal of a Ted Nugent tune in an alternate
universe.) I guess this is no surprise most of these bands started around this
time period. I’ve met a few Rush fans over the years who only liked their early
stuff. I can see why now. These songs are about youthful angst and mad love.
This is pre-Neil Peart. Peart was an avid reader of all books. He penned the
band’s (usually philisophical) deep lyrics. This record is far different than
any other Rush I’ve heard, and of course it’s the first album I’ve heard sans Neil
Peart. Geddy Lee’s vocals are unbridled and throaty. He’s far more growly than
his later high pitched vocal sound. Alex Lifeson is searingly raw on this
album, yet his nascent style is there. The back and forth clock pendulum rhythm
of “Working Man” is a testament. This album absolutely will rock your socks
off. High resolution files are pricey, but man, is this album worth it. Like
the site’s tagline says, You can hear the
difference.
6. Bearskin
by James A. McLaughlin: It's obvious James McLaughlin has married
his MFA with his talent for fictioneering. His descriptive passages of the
woods in which this book takes place were so engrossing I felt as if I were
there, feeling the crunch of dead leaves under my boots, the fecund smell of
the forest and even the far distant sounds of a dog barking. McLaughlin's
characters were finely drawn to where I began to know them as real people. The
plot was a little jarring at times, but I was always able to find my way. This
is a really good book and an exceptional first novel. Don't be surprised if two
years from now you see this in the trailers of your local movie theater.
7. Driving
Blind by Ray Bradbury: Consider this a collection of songs that would
be labled as B sides, outtakes and other rarities. I imagine these are stories
Bradbury got rejected from the mainstream rags back in the early days. That
said, however, there are some real gems in this book. “Someone in the
Rain.” It concerns a man taking his wife
to a vacation cabin his family frequented when he was a kid. It’s raining, his
wife is miserable, and he’s seeking something, one thing, anything, that will
rekindle his fond boyhood memories. And when he eventually sees it for one
fleeting moment, well, I’m just glad nobody was around when I read it. That story
has become my new favorite. If you’re a fan of Bradbury, it would be remiss of
you to pass this one up.
8. Doom
(2016) on PC: I’m trying to
hang onto both handrails as I’m making my way through this fast and fierce dark
adventure ride. The game is definitely what to Doom 3 was that Doom
II was to the original Doom. Some of my friends think the
game is just too over the top and miss the more eerie backdrop presented in Doom
3. And I definitely get that. This one is much more a test of one’s
reflexes, but the main star of this show is Mars itself. As Mars seques into
Hell I can’t help but marvel. The weapons pack a wonderfully fun punch and
discovering secrets which award upgrades and perks make exploring a compelling
activity. At 10 hours in I’m probably ¾ of the way through. There’s a chance to
play on Nightmare Difficulty once the game is beat. I just may attempt it.
